Agricultural implement.



Nb.- s15,'744. PATENTED MAR. 20', 1906.

- W. H. RICH,

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT;

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1904.

, 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

III

&

Attorney.

No.815,"744.-' f IPA-TENTED MAR. 20,1906.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT.

APPLIGA'IIQN TILED JULY 20, 1904.

' a SHEETS-SHEET z.

Witnesses. I

BATENTED MAR. 20, 1906. H. RICE.

. W. AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTQ APPLICATION IILBD JULY 20, 1904.

a sums-$113M s.

o NITED, TA ES PATENT OFFICE.

. WILLIAM H. RICE, OFROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT.

A umm filed July. 20, 1904. SerialNo. 217,412.

To all whom it may concern:

7 Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. RIoE, of,

Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Agricultural Implements and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and to the reference-numerals markedthereon.

- Mypresent invention relates to agricultural implements, andparticularly to that class known as cultivators; andit has for itsobject to rovide' a machine comprising a comparative y narrow framesupporting two ormore gang or tool frames which are capable of beingopened or closed to vary the width of the cultivated strips of ground.and

which are also adjustable relatively to vary the distance between therows cultivated by the tools on each frame. a

My invention has for its further object to provide ,mea'ns under thecontrol ofthe operator for swinging the gang-frames to v permit plantsor other objects lying in their path to be dod ed without altering thegeneral direction 0 travel of the machine.

To these and other ends my invention consists in certain improvementsand'combinations of parts; all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side perspectiveview of an agricultural implement conis a sectional vi'ewlof the bracketsupporting 1 k the tools and the devices employed for constructed inaccordancewith'. my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken from apoint above the machine, and Fig. 3'is a rear perspective view thereof.Fig. 4 is an elevation of the adjustable connections between thegang-frames. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the foot-adjusting'levers,illustratin. its attachment to one of the uprights of he-carriageeframeand also the adjustableconnection between it and the gang-frame. Fig. .6

the lever shownin Fig. 5 ,and Fig. 7 is. a perbracket.- Fig. 8 is adetail sectional view illustrating the means for adjusting the drafttongue... Fig.9 is a side. elevation ofone of Specification of EettersPatent.

spective 'view of a modified form of said.

Patented'March 20, 1906.

necting it to the gang-frame. Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the partsshown m Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view on the line11 11 of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is aside elevation of a spring-tooth ada ted tobe employed on'the gang-frames. ig.'13 is atop plan view thereof. Fig.14 is a sectional view on the line 14 14 of Fig. 12. Fig. 15

is a detail view illustrating the operation of I the lever for elevatingand depressing a gangextending outwardly from the vertically-ex tendinguprightportions 3 ofthe frame on which the side portions 4 of the latterare mounted. I These side portions converge toward their forward ends,where theyare con-' nected by the upper and lower bearing-plates 5 and 6res ectively, between which extends the cent-rall y-arrangeddraft-tongue 7, which is capable of being adjusted in a horizontal planeat an'angle to the carriage-frame to adapt the machine for workingupon'a hillside, and it is also adjustable in a vertical plane to enablethe machine to be operated in a level position whether drawn by horsesof greater or less height. To accomplish these ends, the tongue 7 issupported upon a bolt 8, journaled in the plates 5 and 6, and at its.rearv end it is supported loosely between the upper and lowercross-bars 9' and 10. extending between the side pieces 4 of the frame,one of said plates being provided with notches 15,witl1 which 006 eratesa springoperated dog 16," employed for locking'the tongue in adjustedposition.

The portions of the machine located forwardly of the axles-2 arecounterbalanced by the weight of the operator or driver whenihe ismounted; upon the seat 17 which-is adj ustably supported: uponrearwardly-extending arms 18. Extending into proximity with the seatwithin convenient reach of the operator is the adjusting arm or handle19, attached to the rear end of the pole and carrying a short lever-arm20, connected by a rod 21 with thedo 16, whereby the latter may beretracted W en desired. A vertical adj ustment of the forward end of thetongue is accomplished by the rotation of the bolt 8, the threadsthereon engaging with those of the nuts 22 and 23, arranged at the upperand lowersides of the tongue, whereby the latter maybe raised orlowered, as will be understood from an inspection of the illustrationshown in Fig. 8.

Extending downwardly from the forward end of the carriage-frame and ateach side thereof are standards 24, which are braced at their forwardsides by draw-bars and at their rear sides by thrust-rods 31, attachedto the uprights 3, which latter they also serve to support; Each of thestandards are provided with an outwardly-extending end 32, on which isjournaled a clip 33, adjustable longitudinally on said end andretainedin position by a cotter-pin 34, a limited rotary movement of the clipbeing permitted by an elongated aperture therein, through which the pinextends. The gang or tool frames arranged at opposite sides of themachine are alike in construction, and a description of one will sufficefor both. These frames are composed of the inner and outer side piecesand 36, respectively, the latter being provided at its forward end withthe inwardly- .extending perforatedportion 37, pivoted betweenrearwardly-extending lips of the clip 33 by a bolt 38, to which theforward end of the side piece 35 is connected by a bolt 39, whereby saidside pieces may be adjusted relatively to vary the width of the gangframe, said side pieces being pivotally connected at their rear ends bypassing the end of one of them beneath a bolt on the other. This bolt 45is U-shaped, and the sides thereof inclose the side pieces 35 and 36 andlie in small depressions or notches in the edges thereof to prevent itsdisplacement, as

will be understood. The gang-frames extend around thewheels, theirwidest points being located. oppositethe centers thereof, and towardtheir rear ends the side portions 35 and 36 approach each other by aseries of steps, the bottoms 46 of which extend parallel with thedirection of movement of the vehicle, as shown particularly in Figs. 2and 3. One of the side pieces is provided with a rearwardly-extendingend 47, and attached thereto. is a plate 48, having its inner endperforated to receive a lifting-rod 49, attached to a lever 50,journaled on the side 4 of the carria e-frame andprovided upon its innerside wit a dog 55, cooperating with teeth in a segmental rack 56,whereby the lever may be held either in an uprightposition to elevatethe gang-frame or in a substantial horizontal position. A coil-spring 57surrounds the lifting-rod and is arranged between a pin 58 thereon and aplate 48, so that when the arm is in the last-mentioned position thespring will be compressed to force the frame downwardly.

In order to assist the operator in raising the gang-frame, the lever isprovided with an end 59, arranged at an angle thereto, to which isattached a rod 60, guided in an aperture in a plate 61, attached to thestandards 24 and surrounded by a coil-spring 62, the ends of which abutagainst the plate 6] and a pin 63 in the rod and tends to move the arm50 upwardly into its normal position, as will be understood.

In order to permit the distance between the rows cultivated by the toolson the separate gang-frames to be varied, I provide adj ustableconnections between them, whereby they may be moved relatively towardand from each other. These connections in the present instance comprisecross-arms 64, pivoted together at the point 65 and connected at theirlower ends to blocks 70, having pins 71, journaled in bearings 72,attached to the innerside pieces 35 of each of the gangframes. At theupper ends of the arms are pivoted threaded heads 73, with which ongagesa shaft 74, having its opposite ends provided with right and left handscrewthreads, as shown in Fig. 4. The shaft is provided at one end withan operating-handle 75, by means of which it may be rotated,

its movement in one direction or the other causing the ends of the armsto be drawn together or separated and a corresponding movementtransmitted to the gang-frames. This is an advantageous form ofadjusting device, as the cross arms extending upwardly they may beoperated without an operator being required to reach beneath thevehicle-frame, and, further, as the pivotal connection between the armsis located near their upper end only a slight relative ad justmentthereof is required to cause a considerable movement of the gang-frames.

To provide means for shifting the gangframes to enable the operator tocultivate irregular rows without changing the direction. of the machine,or to enable the tools to dodgeplants, stones, or other obstructions,

devices are provided which are controlled by the operators feet, whichare so arranged as to normally form foot-rests. In the present instancethese operating devices consist of curved lever-arms 76, which extendaround the outerside of the supports 3, being connected at their forwardends to one of the side pieces of their respective gang-frames byoverlapping perforated plates 77 and 78, by means of which said framesmay be held in ears 79 of plates 80, secured to bearing-plates t y esird n r al o i a. a wil w erst Q-d- T p r tal P t rth v r 7,6*are formedon the outwardly-extending 81;, having innersemicircular'surfacesadapted to receivethe cylindrical faces of the up-. rights 3and to. be securedto thelatter by means of pins 82, entering aperturesin the uprights, and U-shaped-bolts 83., the ends ofwhich also.passthrough the rear ends of the thrust-rods 31, all as shown in Fig. 6.This arrangement I deem to be a preferable construction, although,i ifit is desired, thebracket and the bearing-plate may be formed of asingle piece, as shown in Fig. 7-, and theflat} ter provided With ashort perforated arm 84,

feet in thenatural downward and forward direction. b 1

Various forms of tools may be employed onthe gang-frames, and in Figs.9, 10 ,and 11 I have illustrated aform. of connection which is devisedparticularly for mounting the tools whereby they may readilyfree-themselves. when engaging impediments lying in their'paths. Thetool consists of a shoe 85, removably attached,by means ofa bolt 86, tothe shank 87, the end of which cooperates with a seat 88, attached tothe side of the gang-frame. Atits upper and, lower sides the. seat isprovided with relatively inclined cam-slotsv 89 and 90 extendingrelatively in o positedirections, as shown in Fig.10, andtlifetool-shank 87, is held in engagement With springv 91, operating onthe bolt 92, having a loop or eye encircling the shank and securedthereto by a. screw 93, permitting the tool to be adjusted vertically.The spring 91; is preferably formed of a flat strip of metal, the end.or body. portion of which 1s secured by a bolt 94, passingthroughthezseat 88 and also through the gang-frame, and it is furthersecured'beneathabolt 95, passing through ears 96, extending. rearwardlyover. opposite sides ofthe supporting portion of. the gangfr ameand thespring. The tension of the latter may be adjusted by themovement of.thenut 97- on the bolt 92. .From this arrangement of-the partsit willbe seen that if shank. to move laterally on its seat, placing I claimasmy inventi the inner sides of the slots b means of a the spring 91under tension, so that when a tool has passedthe obstruction it will bere turned to its normal position.

It is frequen ly desirable to employspringteethfor certain classes ofwork, and in Figs. 12 and 13 I have illustrated such a tooth adaptedparticularlyto be employed upon this machine.

The: body portion of the I tooth is constructed of fiatspring metal bentin a spiral form and having its attaching end 98 secured betweensemicircular bushings or clamping-plates 100 resting against thecorresponding face of a seat 101, the'seat, tool, and clamping-platesbeing secured to the gang-frame by av U-shaped bolt 102. a The spiralshape of the body portion of the tooth lends the desired elasticitythereto, while near its-lower end it is stiifenedby bending v V orflattening the material transversely, as indicated at 103 and illustparticularly in the sectional view shown in Flg. 14.' At the lower endof the tool isa removable shoe 104,

attached by a bolt 105.

Inasmuch as it is frequently desirable to operate the machine when theoperator is walk ing in rear thereof, I provide thegang-frames withguiding handles 106, pivoted to short arms or brackets 107, attachedto.the side portions 35 ofthe gang frames and held in operative position bylatches 108-,which may be disengagedto'permit the handles to be foldedinthe inoperative position, if desired.

agricultural implement constructed in accordance with my inventionembodying gang or tool. frames surrounding the wheels,

the sides of which may be adjusted to vary their width, and which arealso movable relati vely to each other, adapt the machine for extensiveuse, as it may be employed. for

many of the various conditions encountered in c ultivating operations. H

1 In an agrleultural implement, the com.-

bination with a carriage embodyingv Wheels,

a, frame supported thereonanddraft appliances, of standards on theframein front of the Wheels, gang-frames surroundin the lat- ,tercomprising relatively adjusta le side pieces andv means for adjustingsaid gang framesrelatively to, each other on the standards and toolsmounted onsaid frames.

2 In an, agricultural implemenathecome 'bination with a carriageembodying wheels,

a frame supported thereonand draft appli- ,and tools onthelatter.

3, In. an agriculturalimplement,the coms ineti w e r ege n s hee s-e iIIO frame supported thereon and draft appliances, of standards on theframe having horizontallyextending ends, clips thereon adjustablelaterally relatively to each other and gang-frames pivoted to the clips,each of said frames comprising relatively adjustable side pieces, toolsthereon and an adjustable connection between said frames for swingingthem relatively toward and from each other.

4. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriage-frameembodying wheels, draft appliances thereon and depending standardshaving laterally extending ends, of clips journaled on said ends,gangframes comprising side pieces surrounding the wheels and journaledon the clips and means for adjusting said gangs relatively.

5. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriage-frameembodying wheels, draft appliances thereon and depending standardshaving laterally extending ends, of clips journaled on said ends havingrearwardly-extending lips, gang-frames surrounding the wheels andjournaled on said lips and means for adjusting said gangs.

6. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriageembodying a frame having wheels thereon and draft appliances, of astandard on the frame having a horizontally-extending end, a gang-framehaving a bar extending in rear of the end of the standard, and a clipembracing the latter and extending over the bar and pivotally connectedthereto.

7. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriageembodying wheels, a frame supported above them and draft appliances, ofgang-frames arranged beneath the carriage-frame at each side thereof,each frame comprising relatively adjustable side pieces surrounding thewheels, and pivotally connected to the frame, arms pivotally attached attheir lower ends to the gang-frames and extending upwardly intoproximity with the carriage-frame, means for operating the arms to swingsaid frames relatively and tools carried on the latter.

8. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriageembodying wheels,

. the wheels, of gang-frames composed of inner a frame supported thereonand draft appliances and standards on the frame and extend- 'ing infront of the wheels, of gang-frames composed of inner and outer sidepieces extending around the wheels, said side pieces being adjustablerelatively to each other at their forward ends, clips for connectingsaid frames to the standards and tools carried on the frames.

9. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriageembodying wheels, a frame supported thereon and draft appliances andstandards on the frame having laterally-extending ends projecting in.front of and outer side pieces connected at their rear ends andadjustable relatively to each other at their forward ends, clips journaled on the ends of the standards and connected to the forward endsof said frames and tools carried on the latter.

10. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriageembodying wheels, a' frame supported thereon and draft appliances andstandards on the frame having laterally-extending ends projecting infront of the wheels, of gang-frames composed of inner and outer sidepieces yieldingly connected at their rear ends and adjustable relativelyto each other at their forward ends, clips journaled on the ends of thestandards and adjustable longitudinally thereon, means for securing theclips in adjusted position, rearwardly-extending gang-frames attached tothe clips and tools carried on said frames.

11. I11 an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriageembodying wheels, a frame supported thereon and draft appliances andstandards on the frame, of gangframes composed of inner and outer sidepieces surrounding wheels, pivotal connections between the rear ends ofthe side-pieces and means at their forward ends for adj usting themrelatively to each other to vary the width of the gang-frames, toolscarried by said frames and devices for connecting them to the standards.

12. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriageembodying wheels, a frame supported thereon and draft appliances andstandards on the frame, of a gangframe composed of separate inner andouter side pieces surrounding wheels, a clip yieldingly connecting saidpieces at their rear ends and means for adjusting their forward endsrelatively to each other, tools carried on said frame and a device forconnecting the latter to the standard.

13. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriageembodying wheels, a frame supported thereon and draft appliances andstandards on the frame, of a gangframe composed of separate relativelyadjustable inn er and outer side pieces provided with a plurality ofoffsets or steps pivotally connected at their rear ends, one of saidpieces being; provided with an end extending rearwardly of the otherpiece, tools having shanks secured to said steps and to saidrearwardlyextending end and a device connecting the frame to thestandard.

14. In an agricultural implement, the combin ation with a carriageembodying wheels, a frame having uprights, axles carried thereon andsupported in the wheels and draft appliances attached to the frame, ofswinging gang-frames arranged beneath the sides of the frame, leverarmsjournaled in an inclined position on the uprights and attached .to thegang-frames and tools carried onsaid frames/ 3 p ,15 In anagriculturalimplement, the com bination with a carriage embodyingwheels, a

' frame supportedthereon having uprights and draft appliances attachedto the frame, of swinging gang-frames carrying toolsarranged beneath thesides of the frame, foot-levers attached to the gang-frames and.journals supporting the levers in an inclined position on the uprights.y

16. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriageembodying wheels, a

frame supported thereon having uprights and swinging gang-framesarranged beneath the sides of the frame, brackets 'on the outer sides ofthe uprights and arms extending around the latter and pivoted on thebrackets, adjustable connections between the gang-frames and theproximate ends of'the arms, footrests on the other ends of the armsandtools carried on the frames.

18,. In an agricultural-implement, the combination with a carriageembodying wheels, a frame supported thereon and draft appliances, of gan-frames attached to the carriage having too s thereon, brackets on theframes and rearwardly-extending handlespivotally connected .to thebrackets and latches on the handles, coo erating with the ends of thebrackets for ocking them in operative position. J

g 19. The combination with a support, ofa seat thereon having an openrecess extending substantially in a vertical direction, of a tool havina shank provided with a flattened end exten ed lengthwise of said seat,clampingplates fitting opposite sides of said end and a device forclamping said plates and shank to the seat.

2O. The combination with a support and a' seat thereon, having asemicircular recess, of a tool having a shank 'rovidedLWith a flattenedend extending e gewise from the bottom of said recess, segmentalclamping plates fitting opposite sides of said end and adapted to fitthe recess in the-seat and a U-shaped' seat.

boltclamping said plates and shank to the 21. The combination with asupport, of a seat thereon havin a recess and a tool having a shankprovi ed with a flattened end disposed edgewise-in the seat, ofsegmental mp n -P st ng he, si .Qf said n and a-U shaped'bOlt clampingsaid plates and tool in therecess the seat and securing the latter onthe support, my 7 p 4 V 22. Ateol for agricultural implements comprisinga body of flat metal bentin-to as iral form, one endof which forms ashank an" the other being stifienefd being. bent into .aU

shape, said portion lying in a plane extending transversely of the bodyand a removable shoe attached to said end. i

23. In an'agricultural implement, the combination with a carriageembodying wheels, a frame supported thereon and draft appliances, of agangr-frame movably supported on the carriageame having tools thereon, alever pivoted on the carriage-frame, a lifting-rod connected to thelever and cooperating with the gang-frame and a spring contracted by themovement oflever-in one direction and operating extensibly to move it ina direction to raise the gang-frame. I

24E. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriageembodying wheels, a frame supported thereon and draft appliances,

of a'gan -frame movably supported on the carriageame having toolsthereon, a lever pivoted on the carriage, a liftin -rod attached to thelever at one side of its pivot and cooperating with the gang-frame, aspring com-' pressed by the movement of the lever in one direction andoperating extensibly on thelever at the other side of its pivot to moveit in a direction to raise the gang-frame and a spring bearing on thegang-frame and operated by the lifting-rod to yieldingly move thegang-frame downwardly.

25. In an agricultural implement, the com- IOOv bination with a carriageembodying wheels and a frame having draft appliances thereon, ofgang-frames composed of relatively adjustable side pieces surroundingthe wheels, connections between the gang-frames and the carriage-framelocated in front of the wheels, said connections beingadjustable'relatively toward and from each otherindependently of thewheels and tools carried by the'gangframes. i

26. In an agricultural implement, the comframe supported above themanddraft appliances, of gang-frames arranged beneath rounding thewheels andpivotally connected to the carriage-frame, and means connected to saidframes for swinging them relatively and tools carried on the frames. I

' 27 In an agricultural implement, the combination with a carriageembodying wheels, a frame supported thereon having draft appliances, ofgang-frames composed of inner and outer side pieces surroundingthewheels, ivotal connections between the'rear ends 0 the binationwith acarriage embodying wheels, a

- the carriage-frame at each side thereof sur- 1 side piecesand means attheir forward ends 811a" foirided'with a werki'rig p oint and flattenein a U shape above the point, said por- I0 ticn extending in a directiontransversely of the body.

- I? WILLIAM H. RICE.

' 'Witn'esses:

- G. WILLARD R1011,

RUSSELL B. GRIFFITH.

